Method and apparatus for coating cores



1,615,431 Jan 25 1927 H. F. ALBRIGHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CORES Filed Feb. 26, 1923 lol 101 Patented Jan. 25, V1927.

HENRY FLEETWOOD ALBRIGHT,

r oFFicE..

0F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOv WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATINGIl CORES.

Application filed February 26, 1923. SeriaLNo. 621,219.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for coating cores.

The object ofthe invention is to produce a. core having a coating of pulp thereon which is attached to the core solely by an intermingling of the fibers thereof and without the use of any adhesive substance.

Another object'of the invention is to Ycoat a plurality of cores in strand form simultaneously. y

Briefly, the method consists in depositing wet pulpou's material on a screen or other suitable foraminous member, transferring tlielmaterial from said member to a carrier,

' preferably a. felt, removing the material from the felt in ribbon form and slitting the=said ribbon into a plurality of narrower ribbons, ressing .the said ribbons on the cores to lie coatedand then forming said material on the cores to constitute homogeneous coatings therefor.

Y The present method may be employed to advantage for insulating electrical conductors, but it is to be understood that it is not limited to this purpose but only in so far as is defined by the appended claims. Where the method is used for insulating electrical conductors manila, wood rag, cotton, esparto, jute, hemp, and asbestos pulps may be employed as the coating material, but other materials than those specified ma be used without departing from the spirit yand scope of tlie'present invention which contemplates in its broadest aspect the coatf ing of any core with pulp.

The drawings illustrate an apparatus by which the method may be practiced, the apparatus being'especially designed for coating cores in strand forni, but 1t 1s to be understood that other apparatus may be de- ,vised for coating cores in other forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The Word pulp as used 1n the, specification and claims is to be understood as defining and including -any cohering fibrous mass whether suspended in a liquid, moist, or substantially dry.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apreferred apparatus by which the method may be practiced; p

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top

part of the apparatus shown spectively. I

The steps of the method will be readily understood from a detailed description of the apparatus by whichA the method may be practiced.

Referring to the drawings in vdetail in which like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, the apparatus kcomprises a drum 10 which is partially submerged in a liquid containing pulp within a trough 11. The drum 10 comprises a pair of sheet metal sides and a peripheral portion 12 secured thereto. The portion 12 is provided with a plurality of relatively large perforations 13 which are covered with a narrow strip of fine wire mesh 14, as shown in Fig. 2. The drum has a centrally disposed tubular axle V15 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 16 carried by a framework 17 which supports all of the elements of the apparatus.

Pulpous. material is strained onto the Wire mesh 14 as the drum 10 is rotated in the tank by maintaining the level of the mixture Within the drum 10 at a lower level than that. of the pulp liquid in the tank 11, as indicated by dotted lines A and- B respectively.` This difference in levels is maintained by a syphon pipe 18 which has its inlet opening submerged in the liquid within the drumand its discharge through the tubularaxle 15. A continuous circulation of pulp liquid is maintained in the tank 11 by feeding the pulp liquid from a supply tank (not shown) into the tank 11 by means of a pipe 19 and out of saidtank through a pipe 20 into a receiving tank (not shown) from which it is pumped back into the su`- ply tank 4in lany suitable manner. As t e druml 10 rotates in the tank 11, due to the difl'elence'in levels of the liquid in tne drum and tank, the liquid in the tank will pass through the wire mesh 14 and perforations 13 straining the pulp onto the outer surface of the wire mesh.

Disposed in contact with the wire mesh 14 is a belt 21 preferably made of felt and revolvably mounted upon rollers 22 and 23 rotatably mounted within suitable bearings carried by spacedbrackets 24 which are supported by the framework 17. The drum 19 and felt belt 21 are driven in the directions indicated by the arrows by means of belts connected with a suitable driving mechanism (not shown). The roll 22 is so disposed relative to the drum 10 that the felt belt 21 is squeezed between it and the fine wire mesh 14, which serves to remove the free liquid from the ulp material and also to transfer the material from the wire mesh to the felt in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. The pulpous material on the felt 21 is carried thereby between the roll 23 and a felt covered roll 25, theserolls being forced together by any suitable pressure means which may be adjustable` to present the proper pressure on the pulpous material. The rolls 23 and 25 'serve to remove additional moisture from the pulpous material and felt the fibers thereof together sufficiently to permit the material to be taken from the felt, in the form shown in Fig. 3, and fed between a pairot` squeeze rolls 26 and 27 rotatably mounted within-suitable bearings carried by the parallel frameworks 24. The roll 27 is driven by a belt connected with any suitable source of power (not shown). The rolls 26 and 27 serve to draw the pulpous material from the feltbelt 21 and feed it tova cutting disk 28 operating upon the periphery of'a drum 29. The pulpous material is delivered froln the squeeze rolls 26 and 27 in the form of a moist and cohering sheet as shown in Fig. 4, the ribbon being of such consistency that it may be slit by the cutting disk 28.

The cores to bev coated, which are illustrated as being two in number, are fed from suitable supply spools 30 over idler rolls 31, between the squeeze rolls 26 and 27, andbeneath the pulpous material as the Said material passes between these rolls. The cores and pulpous ribbon are fed together to the cutting disk 28, the cores lying upon the drum 29 with the edges of the pulpous sheet projecting beyond cach core as shown in Fig. 5. y

'l` he squeeze rolls 26 and 27 serve to attach the wide pulpous ribbon to the two cores to some extent', so that when this sheet is slitv by the cutter 28 into two ribbons each core and its associated ribbon tends to remain in yclose contact, the coi-es being disposed substantially in the centery of the ribbons, as shown in Fig. 5. From the cutting disk 28 the two ribbons and their associated cores are passed between pairs of squeeze rolls 40 and 4111 disposed above each other in the manner shown. These squeeze 'rolls serve to remore additional 'moisture from the pulpous ribbons and to force them into more intimate engagement with their associated cores as shown in Fig. 6.

From the pairs of squeeze rolls 40 and 41 each of the cores with its associated ribbon is drawn through forming mechanisms 33 and 34 which are associated with the pairs of squeeze rolls 40 and 41 respectively. The formers 33 and 34 ywrap the projecting edges of the ribbons around the cores and around each other, the appearance of the coatings after they are first acted upon by the formers and after the. forming action is completed being clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8 respectively. Each of the formers 'causes a thorough intern'iingling of the pulp fibers and shapes the coatings so that it embraces thegcore and conforms -to the shape thereof andmolds the coating into a mass so homogeneous thatupon cutting the core and coating, the latter will not fray or ravel and will not become -reasily detached from the core. y 1

Each of the formers 33 and 34 comprises essentially vtwo plates 4which are rotated around the core and serve to wrap the pulp ribbon around the core in muchv the same manner as though the core and pulp ribbon were rolled on a l.table top with the palm of the hand. The formers 33 and 34 shown in the drawings are identical with that fully described in the co-pending application of l-Valker and March, Serial No. 547,923, tiled March 29, 1922` and for a detailed description of this mechanism reference is made to the application above referred to.

Each of the coatedlcores is drawn from its associated former and subjected to mechanism for thoroughly drying the coating. The means shown for performing this operation comprises pairs of wide hollow drums35 'and 36 internally heated and having a plurality of grooves formed thereon (not shown) which receive the coated cores, guides (not shown) being provided for directing the cores over first one drum ofeach pair and then over the other drum until it has traversed all of the grooves on both Idrums, after which ythe cores are stored on take up spools 37 and 38 respectively. The dryingapparatus shown is identical with that fully illustrated and shown in. the talker-March co-pending application above referred to and for a .full disclosure of 'this apparatus, reference is made to the said application. f i J;y

The apparatus illustrated 'and above described is adapted to simultaneously coat two cores inrstrand form, but it isl to be understood that the machine may be modified and closedmayfbe'used with a pulp mixture containing a sizingvsubstance, or the pulp may be4 l deposited on a core which has been previously y treated with anadhesive agent, Without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. l Th'e method of coating a core with pulp which consists in depositing pulpous material. on a member, removing said material from the member, applying a core to'saidmaterial, separating a portion of said material from the Whole, andthen forming said portion of said material on the'core to constitute a coating therefor.

2. The methodof coating a core with pulp, which consists in depositing wet pulp# ous material on a member, removing said material from the member and removing some ofthe moisture therefrom, separating a portion of said material from the Whole, causing said portion of said material to be brought into more intimatecontact With a previously presented core, forming said material on the core to constitute a coating therefor, and then removing substantially all of the moisture from said coating.

3. The method of coating a.core with pulp which consists in depositing pulpous material on a member, transferring said material from the member to a carrier, removingl said material from the carrier and separat:-y ing a portion of said material from the whole and pressing said" portion' thereof on the previously presented core, and then forming said material on the core to constitute a coating therefor.

4. The method of coating'cores with pulp which rconsists in depositing pulpous material on lamember, removing said material from the member and separating the material into portions sufficient for each core, pressing the'separated portions of the material on the previously presented cores and then forming said material on the cores to consitute a coating therefor.

5. The method of simultaneousl coating a plurality of cores with pulp whic consists in depositing pulpous material on a member, transferring said material from said member to a carrier, removing said material from said carrier and separating the material into portions suiiicient for each core, pressing'the n separated portions of material on the previously presented cores and then forming said material on the cores to constitute a coating therefor.

. member,` removing said material `from the 6. The method of simultaneously coating a plurality of cores with pulp Whichfconsists in depositing wet pulpous material on a member, removing said material lfron'rthe member and removing some of the moisture therefrom, separating the material into portions suiicient foreachcorejpressing the separated portionsof material on the previ ously presentedfcores, and' then .forming said material on the cores to constitute *a coating 'I6 therefor. v A i 4 7. The method of simultaneously coating aplurality of cores with pulp which consists in depositing pulpous material on a member einfsheet form and separating -the sheet, into ribbons, pressing the ribbons on the previously presented cores, and then forming said ribbons on the cores to constitute a coating therefor. Y

8. The method of simultaneously coating a plurality of cores with pulp which consists in depositing wet pulpous material on a' member, removing said materialfrom themember in sheet form and removing some of the moisture therefrom, separating the sheet into ribbons, pressing the ribbons on the previously presented cores, and then forming said ribbons on the cores to constitute i a coating therefor.

9. The method of simultaneously coating a plurality of cores with pulp which consists in depositing Wet vpulpous material on a member, transferring said material from said member to a carrier and removing some 100.- of the moisture therefronn'removing said material from the carrier in sheet form, separating the sheet into ribbons, pressing'the ribbons on the previousl presented cores, and then formingsaid ri bons on the cores' 105 to constitute a coating therefor. y

10. The method of simultaneously coating a plurality of cores which consists 1n depositing Wet pulpous material on a member,

transferring said material from said member to a felt and removing some of the moisture therefrom, removing said material from the felt in sheet form, cutting the sheet into ribbons, pressing the ribbons on the previ-l ously presented cores, and'then forming said 115 ribbons on the cores .to constitute a coating therefor.

1l. The method 'of coating cores in strand form with pulp which consists inA depositing pulpous` material on a member, removing said materialr from the member in sheet form, lseparating the sheet into' ribbons, pressing the ribbons on the previously presented cores longitudinally of' the cores and v then wrapping said ribbons around the cores.

12. The method of coating coresin strand form with pulp which consists in depositing wet pulpous material on a member, removing said material from said member in sheet form and removing some of the moisture 13 then wrapping said ribbons around the cores.

13. The, method of coating moving cores 1n strand form wlth pulp which consists 1n depositing wet pulpous material on a mem'- ber, removing said material from said member in sheet Jform and removing some of the moisture therefrom, separating the sheet into ribbons, pressing the ribbons on the previously presented moving cores longitudinally ot the cores and then wrapping sai ribbons around the coref.

14. In a machine for coating cores with pulp, a receptacle for holding a supply of liquid contalning pulp, a member, means for causing relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is deposited on said member, means for removing said' material from said member, means for sepa 'ating said material into separate portions, means for pressing said portions on the previously presented cores, and means for forming said portions on the cores to constitute coatings therefor.

15. In a machine for slmultaneously coatv ing a plurality of cores vin strand form with pulp, a receptacle for holding a supply of liquid containing pulp, a member, means vfor causing relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is deposited on said member, means Jfor removing said pulp from said member in sheet form, means for cutting said sheet into ribbons, means for simultaneously pressing said ribbons on the previously presented cores to be coated, and means for forming the said ribbons on the cores to constitute coatings therefor.

16. In a machine for coating cores with pulp, a receptacle for holding a, supply of liquid containing pulp, a member, means for causing relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is deposited on said member, means for removing said pulp from said member in sheet form and removing some of the moisture from saidmaterial, means for slitting said sheet into ribbons, means for pressing said ribbons on the previously presented cores, rnd means for forming said ribbons on the cores to constitute coatings therefor.

17. In a. machine for coating cores with pulp, a receptacle for holding a supply of liquid containing pulp, a member, means for causing relative movementbetween sald member and said liquid whereby pulp 1s aeposited on sald member, a carrier, means Ior causing engagement between the carrier and the pulp on the member whereby the pulp is transferred to the carrier, means for removing said pulp from said carrier, means for slitting said pulp into a plurality of ribbons, means for pressing said ribbons on the pre- Leia4s1 viously presented cores, and means for forming said ribbons on the cores toconstitute coatings therefor. y

18. In-a machine for coating cores-with pulp, a receptacle for holding a supply ot' liquid containing pulp, a member, means for causing relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is dcposited on said member, a felt, means for -posited on said member, a rotatablel felt disposed in engagement with said member,

. whereby the pulp is transferred to said felt` pressure rolls for ldrawing the pulp ed of said felt, means for slitting said pulp into a plurality ofribbons, pressure rolls for pressing said ribbons on the previously presented cores, and means for forming said ribbons around the cores to constitute homogeneous coatings therefor.

20. In a machine for coating cores with pulp, a receptacle for holding a supply ot liquid containing pulp, a member, means .for causing relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is deposited on said member, a rotatable felt disposed in engagement with said member whereby the pulp is transferredI to said felt, pressure rolls for drawing the pulp oil' ot said felt` means for slitting-'said pulp into a plurality of ribbons, pressure rolls for pressing said ribbons on the previously presented cores, means for forming said ribbons around the cores to constitute homogenous coatings therefor, and means for removing substantially all of the moisture from said coatings.

21. The method of coating a plurality ot cores with paper which consists in depositing paper pulp on a member, removing said material from the member in sheet form and separating the sheet into ribbons, pressmeans for removing said pulp fromsaid member, means -for `separating said pulp into separate portions, means for pressing said portions on-the previously presented cores, and means for fabricating said pulp into paper on the cores in the form 'of coatings thereon.

23. In a machine for coating a plurality of cores in strand form with paper pulp, a receptacle for holding a supply of liquid containing paper pulp, a member, means for causing relative movement between said member and sai-d liquid whereby paper pulp is deposited on said member. means for removing said pulp from said member in sheet form, means for cutting said sheet into 1'ibbons, means for pressing said ribbons on the previously presented cores to be coated; and means for fabricating sai-d pulp ribbons into paper on the cores in the form of coatings thereon.

24. The method oi' coating a core with pulp, which consists in making a sheet of pulpous material, causing engagement ofa core with said sheet of materlal, separating said sheet into portions, and forming one of said portions on the core to constitute an integral, continuous and substantially homogeneous coating therefor.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 30 my name this fifteenth day of February, A. D. 1923.

HENRY FLEETWOOD ALBRIGHT. 

